Alexander Isak scored an injury-time penalty as Newcastle boosted their Premier League high 4 hopes with a 2-1 injury-time win at Nottingham Forest, whose relegation fears have been heightened.
The Magpies had seemed like being made to accept a draw however Isak’s spot-kick penalty earned a deserved three factors which sees them transfer to inside some extent of fourth-placed Tottenham with a sport in hand.
Forest had gone forward halfway via the primary half via Emmanuel Dennis’ first aim for the membership, however Isak levelled in excellent style on the stroke of half-time when he volleyed residence.
A second half of frustration unfolded for Eddie Howe’s aspect as they looked for a winner, not least once they had a aim controversially dominated out by VAR.
But Isak had the ultimate say from the spot after Moussa Niakhate’s handball to maintain the dream of Champions League soccer subsequent season firmly alive.
The late aim noticed Forest crushed on the City Ground for the primary time in 10 matches going again to September they usually may finish the weekend’s motion again within the relegation zone.
Victory was solely what Newcastle deserved as they didn’t begin like a staff who had but to win away in 2023.
They had their hosts on the rack within the first quarter-hour and created two massive alternatives to take an early lead.
They ought to undoubtedly have gone forward within the sixth minute as a pleasant transfer down the suitable noticed Jacob Murphy put his cross right into a harmful space and Joe Willock received there first, however he fired his first-time effort effectively over underneath strain from Serge Aurier.
Six minutes later they got here inside inches of scoring as a intelligent free-kick noticed Kieran Trippier slip in Isak and the Swede’s shot deflected off Aurier on to Renan Lodi after which on to the underside of the crossbar.
Forest weathered the storm they usually took the lead within the twenty sixth minute, although it got here gift-wrapped from the guests.
Sven Botman seemed in charge of Jonjo Shelvey’s lengthy ball, however he handed again to goalkeeper Nick Pope with out wanting and Dennis was there to intercept and dink residence in type for his first aim for Forest.
The hosts have been having fun with a spell of strain however Newcastle once more rattled the crossbar within the thirty fifth minute.
Murphy stole possession off Lodi and teed up Longstaff on the sting of the realm and his shot deflected off Felipe and onto the bar.
But lastly they’d some luck with the woodwork as they discovered the right time to degree, with Isak making it 1-1 in first-half harm time.
With Forest interesting for a free-kick, Willock broke the traces down the suitable and despatched in a cross that was barely behind Isak, however the striker produced a high quality volley that went in off the submit.
It was a full of life begin to the second half and Newcastle have been once more the aggressors as half-time substitute Elliot Anderson nearly scored together with his first significant contact however Keylor Navas tipped over a vicious shot.
Navas was once more referred to as into motion when he palmed over Bruno Guimaraes’ fierce shot because the visiting strain grew.
And Newcastle thought they’d made it depend within the 63rd minute as Anderson headed residence Isak’s cross on the far submit in entrance of a packed away finish that went wild in celebration.
But it was short-lived as after VAR intervention, Tierney dominated that Longstaff interfered with Lodi’s clearance previous to the cross when he was in an offside place.
It was all Newcastle within the remaining 20 minutes as they looked for a winner and it will definitely got here in harm time as Niakhate’s raised arm made contact with the ball and Isak coolly transformed from the penalty spot.
